Chapter 4
Four
Luca
I can’t sleep. Between witnessing my best friend and little sister fornicating like wild beasts and the pain throbbing in my chest like nothing I’ve ever felt before, I’m not even tired.
The assault leaves me with fresh bruises, my skin marked by those damn brass knuckles, and when I take a deep breath, it stabs viciously within me. I’ve had my ass beaten enough times on the ice to leave welts, but they’re nothing close to the sensation I feel now.
But I’m always wearing protective gear when I’m playing hockey.
Can’t say I was lucky enough to suit up before getting my ass beaten tonight.
I grumble as I climb out of bed, an uncomfortable feat that drags me out of my room.
The house is dark, but there’s always someone awake, keeping watch over the compound.
I barely spoke two words to my father when I came home. I blasted him with my middle finger and stormed to my room.
It’s like reliving my childhood or, rather, my teenager years all over again.
I head down the stairs. If Harper were here, I’d have climbed into her bed. At least her warmth might have brought me comfort to dull the throbbing sensations in my chest.
Instead, I’m left alone.
It’s for the best; her and Zeke under my father’s roof isn’t the best idea.
And yet, Massimo’s words reverberate through my mind.
He threatened my family.
I stalk past Dante’s office and pause.
He either left the light on or he’s still awake at this awful hour.
I don’t bother to knock. If it’s another one of his men in his office, I’ll see what trouble they’re up to.
I storm inside, and Dante glances up with a heavy gaze from his laptop.
His eyes tighten, and he gestures to the seat across from his desk. “You’re awake.”
I shut the door behind myself and find my way to the leather chair.
It’s cool against my skin. I feel a bit underdressed.
My father, always in a suit. Me, in my boxers and a t-shirt.
Mostly the t-shirt is so I don’t have to stare at the unsightly bruises forming on my chest when I look in the mirror.
While it may not be often, it’s often enough.
“Who is Massimo DeLuca?” I ask.
Dante emits a heavy sigh, pushes his chair backward and stands. He approaches his liquor tray against the far wall. Pouring himself a scotch, he grabs a few cubes from the ice bucket beside the liquor.
“I’m sure you recognize the DeLuca surname.” Dante swirls the liquor and breathes it in before sampling it.
“It’s Mom’s maiden name.”
Dante nods, his face a scowl as he’s wrapped up in his head for a moment. “Massimo is a name I haven’t heard in quite a long time.”
I open my mouth to ask again who the hell Massimo is when Dante finally answers, “He’s your uncle. Your mother had an older brother whom she is estranged from.”
Mom is estranged from her entire family, but no one had ever mentioned that she had a sibling. “She never speaks about him.”
“He’s as ruthless and cunning as Gino was, and I’m guessing he’s taken over the family business.”
I snort in disgust. Standing, I help myself to my father’s scotch.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Aren’t you a little young to be drinking?”
“Comes with the cost of you and I doing business together. Any more family secrets?” I pour myself a glass and breathe in the aroma. My nostrils already burn, and I haven’t yet tasted it.
I take a gulp and wince.
It’s like turpentine.
“You sip scotch, not throw it back like a shot,” he scolds.
“My mistake.” I pour another glass because, fuck it if Dante is going to tell me how to drink liquor.
He raises an eyebrow at me but doesn’t comment on my underage drinking again. Good, because there’s not a lot he can say that will save him tonight.
“Do you want to tell me what exactly went down this evening?” Dante swirls the amber liquid and glances at me, his gaze filled with something I don’t quite recognize.
Concern.
“I got yanked out of my car, dragged inside, beaten, and learned I have an uncle. Does that about sum it all up for you?” My tone is harsh and bitter, and I swallow back another gulp of the ridiculously expensive scotch. Knowing my father, he dropped a solid five figures on the bottle.
Dante nods slowly. “The only part I’m not quite comprehending is how Ashton managed not to get taken when you did.”
I inhale sharply and wince.
Fuck, that hurts.
Dante notices my grimace, and he stands, coming to tower over me. “Did Massimo do something to hurt you?”
I clear my throat.
I don’t need Dante’s pity.
“I’m fine.” My ribs and chest scream otherwise at me, causing a slight headache, but at least I know there’s no concussion since I didn’t hit my head. Score one for Team Luca.
“You look fine, clearly.” Dante smirks, not the least bit convinced. “Do I need to send in the physician?”
“That isn’t necessary.” I meet my old man’s stare. The only way out of this line of questioning is by telling him about the spat Ashton and I had, which isn’t going to please him.
“Good. I’d hate to think a DeLuca laid hands on my son.”
I huff under my breath and wince.
Fucking pain.
Dante’s head tilts, convinced that I’m hiding something, and he reaches for his cell phone on the desk.
“Ashton and I were arguing when we arrived at the cabin.” I hate myself for giving Dante any of the details that don’t involve him, but it’s the only way to distract him.
Let him get angry with me, at least it’ll make me forget the radiating pain in my chest.
“Arguing about what?”
Inhaling sharply through my nose, I’m not keen on supplying all the information to my father, but that menacing gaze has me continuing to explain.
“Ashton and Nova have been … hooking up.”
Dante folds his arms across his chest and leans back against the desk. He still towers above me. I expect to see a flash of anger, disappointment, but instead, there’s nothing. No emotion whatsoever.
“That’s not exactly news. They’ve been sneaking around since before your wedding.”
“Did everyone know but me?” I can’t believe my father was aware before I was about Nova and Ashton.
He doesn’t answer my question. “You and Ashton were fighting. Why?”
“He lied to me.” How does he not see this as a problem? Of all people, he’s a don. He should realize the importance of loyalty and honor. “It was a betrayal! I warned everyone on the team to stay away from my little sister.”
Dante's eyes crinkle, and he’s almost smiling. “You do realize that you and Nova aren’t actually siblings?”
“We grew up together!”
Dante nods. “Yes, and Moreno is my blood cousin. Which does make her family, but that’s irrelevant.”
“Moreno is your cousin?” Another bombshell I’d yet to realize. Sure, they shared our last name, but that doesn’t mean much. Ricci is a common Italian surname. Not once were there pictures of Moreno and Dante growing up together.
Although it’s not like I’ve seen pictures of Dante as a child. I’ve also never gone looking, and that family tree assignment in grade school, a nightmare I don’t want to ever think about again.
Of course, growing up under a don, where everyone acts as family, you’re made to believe they are your family.
Dante nods slowly. “Did we never mention that to you?”
“You like to leave a lot out.” Glaring at him, I take another swig of the scotch. “Here’s one highlight of the night that shouldn’t be left out. Massimo threatened my wife and son.”
Dante inhales sharply and moves to step back around his desk, finding his ass planted once again in his leather chair.
“Yeah, that about sums up how I feel,” I grumble.
“You know they’re family. We protect our own.”
His words don’t reassure me. “Right, because she can be protected at Evergreen University without constant surveillance and a bodyguard.”
My father raises an eyebrow, and I hold up a hand. “I will not subject my son or my wife to that type of intrusion. I’d rather her not know of the threats. There’s no reason to worry her if Massimo is dead. Ashton took quite a few shots at him.”
“I’ll have my men follow his progress, make sure if he’s still alive, we know where he is at all times.”
Does he really think that’s enough?
“Massimo will send his goons out if he plans on hurting my family. He’s not foolish enough to do the job himself.”
“You’re right, son. Massimo has years of doing deeds far worse than anything I’ve considered doing.”
I swallow the last of the scotch and slam the glass on his desk. “Is that why you insisted on sending Ashton and me tonight?”
Dante flinches. “I wanted you to see what we’re up against. The kinds of men who are truly evil.”
“He traffics women, and children too.” I pace the small length of his office, unable to sit, still thinking about what was interrupted tonight. “He was intending to move girls through the cabin, wasn’t he? I saw a door in the basement. Was it a tunnel?”
Dante rubs at his jaw and sighs. “We believe so, but none of us ventured as close as it seems you’ve gotten.
He has been trafficking girls, children, if you will, and I thought that perhaps you witnessing it firsthand might bend you to see that our business dealings aren’t all bad. We aren’t the villain in every story.”
I glare at my father. “No, you’re sure as hell the villain. Massimo is just another, dare I say worse. It doesn’t make me feel better, and knowing those girls you speak of—where are they? Because they didn’t show up last night.”
“He likely called off the exchange. I’m sure he has them holed up someplace else. He has other locations that he’s using to make the trade, we just haven’t uncovered all of them yet.”
“Trade? Trade for what?” I can’t seem to wrap my head around all of the details. It’s like he gives me bits and pieces when he already knows the whole damn story.
“Weapons. Money. Whatever he needs, the girls are just a form of currency to him. It’s the same shit your grandfather Gino was involved with until he died.
The business went underground, moved away from our area for a while, but it seems they’re back, doing the same insidious work they’ve always done. ”
“We have to stop them.”
Dante hides the hint of a smile playing at his lips. “Yes, that’s precisely what I was hoping you’d say, son.”